Optical information medium

ABSTRACT

An optical information medium comprises a pair of discs which are bonded to each other, an optical recording layer provided on at least one of the discs, and a reflecting layer formed on an upper side of the optical recording layer. The optical information medium further includes an adhesive for bonding the pair of discs provided on the reflecting layer, wherein the adhesive has a thickness ranging from 10 to 80 μm. A protecting layer is provided on the upper side of the reflecting layer wherein the pair of discs may be bonded by the protecting layer. The optical recording layer, reflecting layer and protecting layer may be directly sequentially provided on the disc but another substrate layer may be inserted between these layers. There is employed, as the adhesive, those including a reactive curing resin or a hot melt material, and it is preferable that the shrinkage rate of the adhesive be less than 15%.

This is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/965,875, filed Nov. 7, 1997, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,445,676.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical information mediumcomprising one disc formed of a transparent substrate and having anoptical recording layer and a reflecting layer at least on one surfacethereof and another disc which is bonded to one disc by an adhesive.

2. Prior Art

A digital video disc (DVD) capable of recording and reproducinginformation with high-density has been now put into practical useassociated with the recent development and practical utilization oflaser light having a short wavelength. The optical information medium ofthis type can adopt a structure for bonding two pieces of discs.

A read-only optical information medium having such a structure forbonding two surfaces of discs has a center hole at the center thereofand a clamping area at the outside thereof. A pair of discs which arebonded to each other include at least one transparent substratecomprising at one surface thereof, an information recording area formedoutside the clamping area, pits serving as an information recordingmeans formed on the information recording area, and a reflecting layerformed of a metal film and provided on the pit.

Further, as an optical information medium capable of recordinginformation, a tracking guide is formed on the information recordingarea of at least one substrate, and the substrate is coated with organicdye, etc. by means of a spin-coating process, to form an opticalrecording layer, and a reflecting layer formed of a metal film is formedon the optical recording layer. Still further, the entire surfaces of apair of discs are coated with a reactive curing resin as an adhesive bymeans of a spin-coating process or a screen printing, and the coatedsurfaces are laid on top of the other to oppose each other, and twodiscs are bonded to each other by the adhesive set forth above.

In a WORM (write once, read many times) optical information medium,there is employed a system for coating the transparent substrate with adye material such as an organic dye with a given thickness to form anoptical recording layer, and forming a reflecting film such as a metalfilm on the optical recording layer.

In such a WORM optical information medium, if the optical recordinglayer of the disc is coated with an adhesive such as a reactive curingresin by a spin coating process or screen printing, etc., and two discsare bonded to each other by this adhesive, residual stress is generatedin the joining boundary between the different materials, whereby thediscs are liable to warp and the adhesive surface is liable to flake dueto the warpage of the discs. Further, there occurs a problem that when ashock is applied to the discs, the discs are liable to flake, therebydeteriorating the shock resistance. Particularly, the flaking is liableto occur at the edges of the two discs, which causes a problem ofbrittleness against the shock on the edges. Still further, since theadhesion between the two discs deteriorate, the moisture in the air isliable to enter the discs, which causes a problem of deterioration ofthe layer with moisture.

If a reaction-sensitive resin is employed as an adhesive layer, theshrinkage involved in the curing occurs, and the stress generatedthereby influences the recording layer, thereby distorting the recordinglayer. As a result, a variation of tracking signal and/or reflectanceoccurs when the discs are reproduced with a laser beam. The variationrate exceeds 30%, thereby obstructing the record and reproduction of theinformation.

When the discs are bonded by the adhesive, one surface of one disc iscoated with an adhesive, and another surface of another disc is overlaidon one disc, thereafter they are irradiated with light so as to cure theadhesive. When one disc is laid on top of the other, bubbles are liableto enter between the two discs, and hence the stress is liable to occurby bubbles at the time of the bonding of the discs, and the magnitude ofthe stress increases. Accordingly, the influence of the stress upon therecording layer also increases, and there is a possibility that theoptical disc is deformed to the extent to be recognized visually. Avacuum degassing apparatus is employed to prevent bubbles from enteringthe adhesive layer when the discs are bonded to each other, which makesthe apparatus large-scaled, and hence increases the operating process,which causes a problem of deterioration of productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the invention to reduce a stress even if thestress occurs owing to bubbles which are produced when two discs arebonded by an adhesive. It is a second object of the invention to reducethe shrinkage of the adhesive involved in the curing of the adhesivelayer. It is a third object of the invention to restrain the variationrate of reflectance and the variation of a push-pull signal which arecaused when the adhesive layer is cured, thereby permitting the signallevel not to reach a critical value. It is a fourth object of theinvention not to deform the discs from the shrinkage involved in thecuring of the adhesive layer. It is a fifth object of the invention toselect a suitable material from an ordinary material for use in theadhesive layer, thereby dispensing with the use of a specially preparedmaterial. It is a sixth object of the invention to perform a bondingoperation using the adhesive in a simple manner without using alarge-scale apparatus such as a degassing apparatus, thereby enhancingproductivity. It is a seventh object of the invention to increase theresistivity of friction of the adhesive for bonding the discs.

The optical information medium comprises a pair of discs 1 and 5 whichare to be bonded to each other, an optical recording layer 12 which isformed on at least one of the discs 1 and 5 at the surface where thediscs 1 and 5 are bonded and a reflecting layer 13 formed over theoptical recording layer 12. The optical information medium according tothe present invention has an adhesive 11 for bonding a pair of discs 1and 5 by way of the optical recording layer 12 and reflecting layer 13in the aforementioned optical information medium, and the thickness ofthe adhesive 11 ranges from 10 to 80 μm. A protecting layer 14 may beformed over the reflecting layer 13, and the pair of discs 1 and 5 arebonded to each other by way of the protecting layer 14.

The optical recording layer 12, the reflecting layer 13 and theprotecting layer 14 to be formed on the disc 1 are sequentially directlyformed in this order, but another layer may be inserted between theselayers. The reactive curing resin, or a hot melt material, or the likeis used as the adhesive 11, particularly, it is preferable that theshrinkage rate of the adhesive 11 be less than 15% when it cured byirradiation of UV ray.

Since the thickness of the adhesive 11 ranges 10 to 80 μm, the coatinglayer of the UV curing resin adhesive, for instance, has a sufficientviscosity, and even if bubbles are produced when the main surface of theother disc contacts the coating layer, the viscous adhesive of thecoating layer flows to fill up the bubble holes. Even if the viscousadhesive of the coating layer is cured by the irradiation of the UV rayswhile bubbles remain therein, the stress generated based on thesebubbles can be reduced by the deformation caused by the plasticity andelasticity of the resin, thereby reducing the influence upon therecording layer. If the thickness of the adhesive 11 is less than 10 μm,the bubbles cannot be filled up by the deformation of the adhesive 11.On the other hand, if the thickness of the adhesive 11 exceeds 80 μm,the curing speed of the adhesive 11 reduces so that the adhesive 11 isliable to be non-curable.

As mentioned above, the optical information medium of the presentinvention can reduce the stress even if the stress is generated from thebubbles produced in the adhesive layer. Further, the shrinkage of theadhesive 11 when it cures is small, the variation rate of the reflectionand the variation of push-pull signal do not reach critical levels fromthe shrinkage of the adhesive 11 when it cures. The deformation of theadhesive when it cures is not recognized from the external appearance,and further, the adhesive can be selected from an ordinary materialwithout using the specially prepared material, and a large-scaledegassing apparatus is not required, so that the bonding of the discs bythe adhesive can be performed in the ordinary bonding manner.

Grooves 6 and 6 are defined in at least one of the discs 1 and 5 at theouter periphery of the adhesive surface thereof, and the outerperipheries of the discs 1 and 5 may be bonded to each other by theadhesive 11 filled in these grooves 6 and 6. In such an opticalinformation medium, the adhesive 11 is filled in the grooves 6 and 6 toincrease the bonding surface area by the adhesive 11 compared with acase where only the flat main surfaces of the discs 1 and 5 alone arebonded to each other by the adhesive 11, so that the resistivity offriction at the outer peripheries of the discs 1 and 5 increases by aso-called anchor effect.

The grooves 6 and 6 may be defined in the outer peripheries of the discs1 and 5 or may be defined in the center side from the outer peripheriesof the discs 1 and 5. In the latter case, since the grooves 6 and 6 donot appear on the outer peripheral surfaces of the discs 1 and 5, theypresent the same outer peripheral surfaces in external appearance as anoptical information medium having no grooves 6 and 6.

A part 11 a of the adhesive 11 bonding the discs 1 and 5 may be fixed toan outer peripheral surface of at least one of the discs 1 and 5. Evenin such an optical information medium, the fixing surface area of theadhesive 11 increases because the adhesive 11 is fixed to the outerperipheral surfaces of the discs 1 and 5 compared with the case wherethe adhesive 11 is fixed to only the flat main surfaces of the discs 1and 5, the resistivity of friction at the outer peripheries of the discs1 and 5 increases by a so-called anchor effect.

In this case, inclined surfaces 15 and 15 which are obtuse or acuterelative to the bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and 5 may be formed onthe outer peripheral surfaces of the discs 1 and 5 to which the part 11a of the adhesive 11 is fixed. If the inclined surfaces 15 and 15 whichare obtuse relative to the bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and 5 areformed, the adhesive 11 does not necessarily protrude largely from theouter peripheral edges of the discs 1 and 5 so that adhesive 11 does notlargely influence the outer peripheral shape of the optical informationmedium. On the other hand, if the inclined surfaces 15 and 15 are acuterelative to the bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and 5, the outerperiphery of the adhesive 11 moves around to the back side of thebonding surfaces of the discs 1 and 5 and it is bonded to the back side,enhancing the anchor effect to obtain high resistivity of friction.

The discs 1 and 5 are bonded together by the adhesive 11 not only at aninformation recording area r on the bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and5 but also at an inner information non-recording area i formed at theinner peripheries of the discs 1 and 5. That is, the entire surfaces ofthe discs 1 and 5 are bonded together by the adhesive 11 to extend fromthe center holes 4 to the outer most peripheries thereof. As a result,the entire surfaces of the two discs 1 and 5, including the informationnon-recording area i formed at the inner peripheries of the discs 1 and5, are bonded to each other so that the resistivity of friction of thediscs 1 and 5 increases and the adhesion between the discs 1 and 5 isenhanced. Particularly, since the adhesive 11 reaches the center holes 4of the discs 1 and 5 and the edges of the center holes 4 of the discs 1and 5 are bonded by the adhesive 11, the discs 1 and 5 hardly flake atthe inner peripheries of the center holes 4, thereby enhancing thehermeticity between the discs 1 and 5.

A groove 7 is defined between the center holes 4 of the discs 1 and 5and the information non-recording area i at the bonding surfaces, andthe adhesive 11 is filled in the groove 7, thereby increasing the fixingsurface area of the adhesive 11, and hence the resistivity of frictionincreases at the inner peripheries of the discs 1 and 5 by a so-calledanchor effect. If a rough surface 8 is formed between the center holes 4of at least one of the discs 1 and 5 and the information non-recordingarea i at the bonding surfaces thereof, the fixing surface area of theadhesive 11 increases by the rough surface 8 so that the resistivity offriction at the inner peripheries of the discs 1 and 5 increases. Such arough surface 8 may be character information which is engraved on thesurfaces of the discs 1 and 5, for example, a lot number of a productnumber.

The discs 1 and 5 are bonded in principal at their entire surfaces whichoppose each other. In this case, it is preferable that the surfaceincluding an area having no optical recording layer 12 is bonded toanother disc 5 without forming the optical recording layer 12 on atleast a part of the surface except the information recording area r ofthe disc 1. In other words, a marginal part where no optical recordinglayer 12 is formed at the outer periphery and/or inner periphery of theinformation recording area r in which the signal of the disc 1 isrecorded, and the surface including this marginal part where the opticalrecording layer 12 of the disc 1 is provided may be bonded to anotherdisc 5. The width of the marginal part of the disc 1 is more than 0.1mm. It is more preferable that the width of the marginal part exceed 1.5mm.

In such an optical information medium, the optical recording layer 12 isnot formed on the outside of the information recording area r of thedisc 1, namely, on the marginal part outside the area whole informationrecording, and the marginal part is bonded directly by the adhesive 11without interposing the optical recording layer 12. Accordingly, thediscs 1 and 5 are bonded to each other with a high resistivity offriction at the marginal part. Since the marginal part locates outsidethe information recording area r, the resistivity of friction adjacentto the edges of the discs 1 and 5 is enhanced, thereby protecting theinformation recording area r inside the edges.

Meanwhile, it is possible to form a non-bonding area m at theperipheries of the center holes 4 of the discs 1 and 5 where the part ofthe adhesive 11 is not bonded without bonding the entire surfaces of thediscs 1 and 5. In such an optical information medium, the non-bondingarea m is formed on the peripheries of the center holes 4 and theadhesive 11 is not bonded onto the non-bonding area m so that theadhesive 11 is not bonded to the peripheral surfaces of the center holes4. When the discs 1 and 5 are coated with the adhesive 11, the adhesive11 neither passes through the center holes 4 nor moves around to therecording surfaces opposite to the bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and5.

In such an optical information medium, the discs 1 and 5 are generallycoated with the adhesive 11 and bonded thereby at the outer side thereofby a spin coating process. In this case, if the grooves 7 and 7 aredefined in at least one of the bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and 5 atthe area outside the non-bonding area m, when the discs 1 and 5 arecoated with the adhesive 11, the adhesive 11 can stay in the grooves 7and 7. As a result, it is possible to surely prevent the adhesive 11from bonding to the non-bonding area m.

Meanwhile, if a center hole 4′ of the disc 5 is greater than thediameter of the center hole 4 of the disc 1, and it is also greater thanthe diameter of the non-bonding area m, the adhesive 11 does not enterthe non-bonding area m when the discs 1 and 5 are coated with theadhesive 11 at the bonding surfaces thereof and they are laid on top ofthe other. Accordingly, it is also surely possible to prevent theadhesive 11 from bonding to the non-bonding area m. In this case, if thepart of the adhesive 11 moves around and bonds to the peripheral surfaceof the center hole 4′ of the disc 5 having a large diameter, theresistivity of friction is reinforced at this portion.

The boundary of the non-bonding area m is not always circular anddisposed at a fixed range from the centers of the discs 1 and 5 but maybe indefinite. That is, the boundary of the non-bonding area m may beeccentric relative to the centers of the discs 1 and 5 or the boundaryof the non-bonding area m may be of a different shape. In such a manner,the maximum amplitude Q of a mechanical resonance frequency f₀ may bereduced, so that the oscillation of the optical information medium canbe reduced at the high speed revolution thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective cross-sectional view of an opticalinformation medium which is cut substantially half in a state before twodiscs are bonded to each other according to a first embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal partial sectional view of the opticalinformation medium of claim 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the optical informationmedium of claim 1, which is cut partially according to a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the optical informationmedium, which is cut partially according to a third embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective cross-sectional view of an opticalinformation medium which is cut substantially half in a state before twodiscs are bonded to each other according to a fourth embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal partial sectional view of the opticalinformation medium of FIG. 5, which is cut partially;

FIG. 7( a) to 7(d) are longitudinal sectional views of the opticalinformation medium, which are cut partially according to a fifthembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal partial sectional view of the opticalinformation medium, which is cut partially according to a sixthembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 9( a) to 9(e) are longitudinal sectional views of the opticalinformation medium, which are cut partially according to a seventhembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective cross-sectional view of an opticalinformation medium which is cut substantially half in a state before twodiscs are bonded to each other according to an eighth embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal partial sectional view of the opticalinformation medium of FIG. 10, which is cut partially;

FIGS. 12( a) to 12(d) are longitudinal sectional view of the opticalinformation medium, which are cut partially according to a ninthembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal partial sectional view of the opticalinformation medium, which is cut partially according to a tenthembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal partial sectional view of the opticalinformation medium, which is cut partially according to an eleventhembodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 15( a) and 15(b) are plan views showing an example of thenon-bonding area of the optical information medium of the presentinvention.

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal partial sectional view of an opticalinformation medium having a tracking guide provided in both discs.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The optical information medium according to various embodiments of thepresent invention will now be described in detail with reference to theattached drawings.

One example of the optical information medium of the invention is of aWORM type having one surface record/reproduction structure formed bybonding two surfaces of two discs.

A material for the disc 1 includes, for example, glass and plastics suchas epoxy resins, methacrylate resins, polycarbonate resins, polyesterresins, polyvinyl chloride resins and the like. As a material for thedisc 5 to be laminated thereto in the case of one-side recording type,there may be used, other than the above mentioned material,thermoplastic resins such as polyolefins, polyamides, polyvinylalcohols, polyacetals, fluoroplastics and the like, as well as phenolresins, polyurethane resins, epoxy resins, amino resins, unsaturatedpolyester resins, alkyd resins, silicone resins and the like.

An information recording area r is set or formed on one surface of thetransparent disc 1 outside an inner peripheral side informationnon-recording area i. A tracking guide 3 comprising spiral grooves isformed on the information recording area r. The tracking guide 3 has apitch which normally ranges from 0.74 to 0.8 μm.

Further, an information recording layer 2 is provided on the mainsurface of the disc 1 on which the information recording area r isformed. For example, the disc 1 is coated with an organic dye, etc. toprovide an optical recording layer 12 by means of a spin coatingprocess, etc., then a reflecting layer 13 made of a metal film isprovided on the optical recording layer 12. The optical recording layer12 and reflecting layer 13 form the information recording layer 2, and aportion where the optical recording layer 12 and reflecting layer 13 areprovided is the information recording area r. A protecting layer 14 isprovided on the entire surface of the main surface of the disc 1 so asto cover the reflecting layer 13. Further, an information non-recordingarea i is set or formed between the inner side of the informationrecording area r to a center hole of the disc 1.

The optical recording layer 12 may be formed, for example, by spincoating a solution of a cyanine dyestuff, azo dyestuff, and otherorganic dyestuffs followed by drying. The optical recording layer 12 mayfurther contain another compound such as a single state oxygen quencher,and a photo-absorbing agent and the like.

As a solvent for dissolving the above mentioned dyestuff, there may beused chloroform, dichloroethane, fluorinated solvents includingfluorinated alcohol, etc., methyl ethyl ketone, dimethylformamide,methanol, toluene, cyclohexanone, acetyl acetone, diacetone alcohol,cellosolves including methyl cellosolve, etc., dioxane and the like. Inthis case, an amount of cyanine dye to be mixed is preferably 1 to 10%by weight.

As the reflecting layer 13, is exemplified a metal film such as gold,aluminum, silver and copper formed by evaporation, sputtering, and analloy metal film of the combination thereof. As the protecting layer 14,is exemplified a radiation curing resin solvent such as a UV curingresin which is coated by a spin coating method and the resin is curedwith UV light.

The WORM optical information medium has the following specificdimensions. The diameter of the center hole 4 of the disc 1, namely, theinner diameter of the disc 1 is 15 mm, and the outer diameter and thethickness of the disc 1 are respectively 120 mm and 0.6 mm. The trackingguide 3 and information recording layer 2 are provided on the disc 1 atthe area ranging from 48 mm to 116 mm in diameter thereof to form theinformation recording area r.

Further, another disc 5 is prepared in addition to the disc 1. Althoughdisc 5 is made of the same material as the disc 1 and has the same sizeas the disc 1, the tracking guide 3 and information recording layer 2are not provided on the disc 5 although they are provided on the disc 1.It is needless to say it is possible that the information recording arear having the tracking guide 3 and information recording layer 2 areformed on disc 5 like the disc 1.

Thereafter, the two discs 1 and 5 are bonded to each other. For example,one main surface of at least one of the discs 1 and 5 is entirely coatedwith a reactive curing resin as an adhesive 11 by a normally employedcoating means such as a spin coating process or screen printing process,gravure printing process, dipping process, or a spray coating process,then, the discs 1 and 5 are laid on top of the other while they opposeeach other, and thereafter the aforementioned reactive curing resin iscured. As a result, the main surfaces of the discs 1 and 5 are bonded toeach other by the adhesive 11 which is formed when the reactive curingresin cures. In this case, the surface of the disc 1 on which theinformation recording layer 2 and the protecting layer 14 are providedis bonded to the main surface of another disc 5.

As the adhesive layer, there are exemplified an adhesive made of acuring resin or that made of a hot melt material. If the UV curing resinis used as the curing resin adhesive, the protecting layer 14 of thedisc 1 is coated by a spin coating process, a screen printing, etc. thenthe disc 5 is laid on the disc 1, thereafter the UV curing resin isirradiated with the UV rays from the side of the disc 1 or disc 5. As aresult, the adhesive is cured. It is also possible to use an electroncuring resin or other radiation curing resin other than the UV curingresin. In case of the adhesive layer formed of a hot melt material, theprotecting layer 14 of the disc 1 is coated with the melted adhesive bya roll coater, then the disc 5 is laid on the disc 1, and the adhesivelayer is cooled to cure in this state.

The adhesive 11 is shrunk when it cures and the shrinkage rate is lessthan 15%. As the means for making the shrinkage rate less than 15% isthe selection of a resin material.

For example, in the case of a radiation curing resin such as a UV curingresin, a reactive diluent, a photo-initiator and the like may be addedto a resin component.

More precisely, a monomer and an oligomer of a polymerizable organiccompound may be coated on the disc 1 followed by forming an adhesivelayer through a crosslinking reaction. When the adhesive layer of anorganic polymer is formed by the crosslinking reaction, it is convenientfrom a standpoint of workability to add a small amount of a reactioninitiator and a reaction catalyst to a mixture of a monomer and anoligomer of an organic compound which has one or more than two reactiveacrylonitrile radicals in a molecule, coat the liquid mixture on thedisc and subject it to a crosslinking reaction by ultraviolet orelectronic radiation. However, a crosslinking process is not restrictedto the above-mentioned method and may include thermal crosslinking whichis applied to an epoxy resin or a urethane resin.

In the case of a hot-melt material, it is preferable that the meltingtemperature is, for example, 130° C. and the melting viscosity is, forexample, 170,000 centipoise at 160° C. from a standpoint of coatingworkability. A practical material includes MELTORON 3S49 available fromDIAPOND INDUSTRY Co., Ltd. Such a hot-melt material is quite easily usedby simply cooling the material without dipping a surface thereof to becoated in a solvent or applying light irradiation for curing.

It is necessary that the shrinkage rate of the adhesive is less than15%. If the shrinkage rate exceeds 15%, the influence caused by thestress thereof affects the optical recording layer, thereby generatingdistortion whereby the reflectance of the laser beam deteriorates todeform the optical information medium.

The thickness of the adhesive 11 needs to range from 10 to 80 μm. If theadhesive 11 has such a thickness, the curing resin such as a UV curingresin shows a viscosity at the coating layer like the UV curing resin.Even if bubbles are generated in the main surface of the coating layerwhen the main surface of another disc contacts the coating layer, theviscous adhesive flows to fill up the holes of the bubbles and alsoreduces the stress generated based on the bubbles by the plasticity andelasticity of the resin even if the viscous adhesive is solidified bythe irradiation of UV rays while the bubbles remain therein, therebyreducing the influence of the stress against the recording layer. If thethickness of the adhesive is less than 10 μm, such a reduction cannot beperformed while if the thickness of the adhesive exceeds 80 μm, thecuring speed of the adhesive layer decreases so that the adhesive isliable not to cure. The thickness of the adhesive 11 preferably rangesfrom 30 to 70 μm.

Since the discs 1 and 5 are bonded by the adhesive 11 at the mainsurfaces thereof including the inner side information non-recording areai extending from the peripheries of center holes 4 of the discs 1 and 5to the outer peripheral surfaces thereof in the optical informationmedium which are formed by bonding the two discs 1 and 5, a highresistivity of friction is attained. Particularly, since the inner andouter peripheries of the discs 1 and 5 are completely closed by theadhesive 11, no air enters inside the discs 1 and 5, and hence themoisture resistance and weather resistance are respectively improved.

When the adhesive 11 spreads outward from the inner peripheral surfacesof the center holes 4, it moves around the inner peripheral surfaces ofthe discs 1 and 5 to be fixed thereto, thereby enhancing shockabsorbance at the center holes 4.

For example, at least one surface of the discs 1 and 5 is turned upward,and UV curing resin which does not cure on the surface as the adhesive11 drops on the surface so as to level the resin while the discs 1 and 5rotate. The adhesive 11 drops at the portion adjacent to the centerholes 4. Thereafter, the given surfaces of the discs 1 and 5 to bebonded to each other are laid on top of the other. As a result, theadhesive 11 spreads between the discs 1 and 5 from the pressure whichthe discs 1 and 5 receive or capillary phenomenon. At the time when theadhesive spreads between the discs 1 and 5 at the entire surface of theinformation non-recording area i, the discs 1 and 5 are rotated at highspeed to wipe off surplus UV curing resin. Then, the UV curing resin isirradiated with UV rays from one surface side of the transparent discs 1and 5, to cure the adhesive so as to form the adhesive layer, wherebythe discs 1 and 5 are brought into contact with each other and fixed bythe adhesive 11. Considering the shock absorbance of the opticalinformation medium, the hardness of the adhesive after curing ispreferably higher than that of the substrate.

The first embodiment relates to the case where the disc 1 having thetracking guide 3 and the information recording layer 2, which arerespectively formed on the information recording area r on thetransparent substrate, and the disc 5, having no information recordinglayer, are bonded to each other. In this case, the recording andreproduction can be made at one surface of the disc 1 or disc 5. Thedisc 5 may be formed to have no transparency or be colored formaintaining the light resistance or have an area in which characters andpatterns can be written in the surface thereof.

Meanwhile, two pieces of discs 1, each having the tracking guide 3 andinformation recording layer 2 provided at the information recording arear on the transparent substrate, are prepared, and the informationrecording layers 2 oppose each other to form an optical informationmedium capable of recording and reproducing at both surfaces thereof. Asthe disc 5 to be used in this case, there is used a disc like the disc 1of the discs 1 and 5 shown in FIG. 1 wherein the tracking guide 3 andthe information recording layer 2 are provided on the informationrecording area r.

FIG. 3 shows an optical information medium according to a secondembodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment, the groove 7 isdefined between the center hole 4 of the disc 1 at the bonding surfacethereof and the information non-recording area i, and the adhesive 11 isfilled in the groove 7. It is needless to say that the same groove 7 maybe defined in the disc 5. When the bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and 5are coated with the adhesive 11, the adhesive 11 flows and stays in thegroove 7 so that the bonding surface area in the bonding surfaces of thediscs 1 and 5, particularly in the inner periphery thereof increases,whereby the resistivity of friction is reinforced by the adhesive 11filled in the groove 7, due to a so-called anchor effect.

The groove 7 may be formed in a plurality of different manners and theadhesive 11 may be reserved in the groove utilizing these differences,which makes it easy to form the information recording layer by a spincoating process.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal partial sectional view of the opticalinformation medium according to a third embodiment of the invention. Inthis embodiment, a rough surface 8 having fine irregularities are formedbetween the center holes 4 of the discs 1 and 5 at the bonding surfacesthereof and information non-recording area i instead of the groove 7.The rough surface 8 is formed on both discs 1 and 5. The resistivity offriction is reinforced at the inner peripheral surfaces of discs 1 and 5by the rough surface 8, like the groove 7 in the second embodiment setforth above. The rough surface 8 may be characteristic informationengraved in the surfaces of the discs 1 and 5, e.g., a lot number or aproduct number.

Further, a protrusion 9 is formed on both surfaces of the discs 1 and 5in this embodiment shown in FIG. 4. Since the protrusion 9 is formed onthe surfaces of discs 1 and 5, it prevents the surfaces of the discs 1and 5 from being injured when the optical information medium is laid ontop of the other.

The outer and inner peripheral sides of the information recording arear, namely, the outside of the area from the record starting portion tothe record ending portion are marginal portions, where the opticalrecording layer 12 and reflecting layer 13 are not formed. The marginalportions at the outer and inner peripheral sides of the informationrecording area r having no optical recording layer 12 or reflectinglayer 13 of two discs 1 and 5 are also bonded by the adhesive 11.

If an area where the optical recording layer 12 and reflecting layer 13having respectively a length of 0.1 mm or more are present at themarginal portion of the outer peripheral sides of the informationrecording area r of the discs 1 and 5, a non-continuous area is formedon the boundary surface between the reflecting layer 13 and opticalrecording layer 12 which is particularly weak in the shock absorbance ofthe disc edge portion, thereby reinforcing the resistivity of friction.As a result, the shock absorbance at the outer peripheral portions canbe enhanced. Further, if an area where the optical recording layer 12and reflecting layer 13 having respectively, a length of at least 0.1 mmor more are not present at the marginal portion of the inner peripheralsides of the information recording area r of the discs 1 and 5, theadhesion between the discs 1 and 5 and the hermeticity of the opticalrecording layer 12 can be improved. As a result, the reliability of therecord is secured and the moisture resistance of the optical recordinglayer 12 is improved, thereby obtaining an optical information mediumhaving a high strength and having no warp, even if the clamping areasare not bonded to each other.

If the width of the marginal portion is less than 0.1 mm, the effect forimproving the adhesion between the discs 1 and 5 is poor, and hence itneeds to be more than 0.1 mm. The width of the marginal portionpreferably exceeds 1.5 mm.

As mentioned above, the resistivity of friction between the discs 1 and5 is particularly weak between the dye film and metal film, and hence ifthe dye film remains on the edge of the disc 1, flake between the dyefilm and metal film is liable to occur at that portion. Compared withthis, sufficient resistivity of friction can be obtained between thediscs 1 and 5, between the metal films, and between the disc 1 and metalfilm. Accordingly, it is necessary not to form the dye film for formingthe optical recording layer 12 at the aforementioned marginal portions.In other words, if the dye film is not present at the marginal portion,the adhesion and hermeticity can be secured even if there is a metalfilm for forming the reflecting layer 13. As an optical informationmedium according to a fourth embodiment, a WORM optical informationmedium having one surface record/reproduction structure formed bybonding two surfaces of discs will be now described with reference toFIGS. 6 and 5. The structure of this optical information medium isprincipally the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and hence thecomponents which are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted bythe same numerals.

In the optical information medium, the grooves 6 and 6 are defined inthe outer peripheral edges of the discs 1 and 5 and have the differencein which the outer peripheral edge thereof is thinner than the innerperiphery thereof. The grooves 6 and 6 appear on outer peripheralsurfaces 9 and 9 of the discs 1 and 5. In the fourth embodiment in thesefigures, the grooves 6 and 6 are defined in the entire peripheries ofthe outer peripheral surfaces 9 and 9 of the discs 1 and 5, but they maybe formed in a part of the outer peripheries of the discs 1 and 5.

Then, two pieces of the discs 1 and 5 are bonded to each other. At leastone main surface of the discs 1 or 5 is coated with the reactive curingresin as the adhesive 11, for example, by a spin coating process orscreen printing, then the discs 1 and 5 are laid on top of the otherwhile opposing each other, thereafter the reactive curing resin iscured. As a result, the main surfaces of the discs 1 and 5 are bonded toeach other by the layer of the adhesive 11 which is formed when thereactive curing resin is cured. In this case, the discs 1 and 5 arebonded to each other at the surfaces where the grooves 6 and 6 aredefined.

It is desirable that the information recording layer 2 is not providedon the surfaces where the outer peripheral portions of the discs 1 and 5are not bonded to each other, and it is preferable that the discs 1 and5 are directly bonded to each other or the surface of the disc 1 or disc5 and the protecting layer is bonded to each other.

FIG. 7 shows an optical information medium according to a fifthembodiment of the invention. In FIG. 7( a), the groove 7 is defined inonly the outer peripheral edge of the information recording layer 2, andthe groove 6 is not defined in the disc 1. In FIGS. 7( b) to (d), thegrooves 6 and 6 are defined in the main surfaces of the discs 1 and 5 atthe position close to the inner peripheral surface rather than the outerperipheral surface, and they do not appear on the outer peripheralsurfaces of the discs 1 and S. Accordingly, in the optical informationmedium shown in FIGS. 7( b) to (d), it appears as if it had no outerperipheral surfaces like the optical information medium having nogrooves 6 and 6 in external appearance. The grooves 6 and 6 of the discs1 and 5 shown in FIG. 7( b) are rectangular. The grooves 6 and 6 of thediscs 1 and 5 shown in FIG. 7( c) are semi-circular. The grooves 6 and 6of the discs 1 and 5 shown in FIG. 7( d) have a trapezoidal shape, eachhaving an inclination at one surface close to the centers of the discs 1and 5. Particularly, in the optical information medium shown in FIGS. 7(c) and (d), the adhesive is liable to flow into the grooves 6 and 6, andhence it is adapted for introducing the adhesive having a high viscosityin the narrow grooves 6 and 6.

FIG. 8 shows an optical information medium according to a sixthembodiment of the invention, in which no groove is defined in the disc 5as set forth above. However, a part 11 a of the adhesive 11 moves aroundthe outer peripheral surfaces 9 and 9 of the discs 1 and 5, and it isfixed to the outer peripheral surfaces 9 and 9. In this embodiment, evenif the grooves 6 and 6 are not defined, the part 11 a of the adhesive 11which moved around the outer peripheral surfaces 9 and 9 of the discs 1and 5 reinforces the resistivity of friction in the outer peripheraledges of the discs 1 and 5, thereby preventing the flaking and warpageat the outer peripheral sides of the discs 1 and 5. Also, in thisembodiment, the grooves 6 and 6 shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 may be provided.

FIG. 9 shows an optical information medium according to a seventhembodiment of the invention. In FIGS. 9( a) and (b), the part 11 a ofthe adhesive 11 moves around the outer peripheral surface 9 of the disc1 and is fixed to the outer peripheral surface 9 but the adhesive 11 isbonded only to the outer peripheral surface 9 of the disc 1 where theinformation recording layer 2 is provided. Particularly, in FIG. 9( a),although the part 11 a of the adhesive 11 is bonded to a part of theouter peripheral surface 9, in FIG. 9( b) a part 11 a of the adhesive 11is bonded to the entire surface of the outer peripheral surface 9 of thedisc. In FIGS. (c) to (e), the inclination surfaces 15 and 15 aredefined in the outer peripheral edges of the discs 1 and 5, and the part11 a of the adhesive 11 is bonded to the inclination surfaces 15 and 15.Particularly in FIGS. 9( c) and (d), the inclination surfaces 15 and 15of the outer peripheries of the discs 1 and 5 are defined in the bondingsurface sides. That is, the inclination surfaces 15 and 15 are obtuserelative to the bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and 5.

In FIG. 9( c), the part 11 a of the adhesive 11 bonded to the edges ofthe inclination surfaces 15 and 15 protrude toward the outer peripheralsides while in FIG. 9( d), the part 11 a of the adhesive 11 bonded tothe edges of the inclination surfaces 15 and 15 form recesses at theouter peripheral sides. Meanwhile, in FIG. 9( e), the inclinationsurfaces 15 and 15 of the outer peripheries of the discs 1 and 5 areformed on the surfaces opposite to the bonding surfaces. That is, theinclination surfaces 15 and 15 have inclinations which are acuterelative to the bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and 5. The part 11 a ofthe adhesive 11 is bonded to both inclination surfaces 15 and 15.

As an optical information medium according to an eighth embodiment ofthe invention, the WORM optical information medium having one surfacerecord/reproduction structure formed by bonding two surfaces of discswill be now described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. The structureof the optical information medium is principally the same as that shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, and hence the components which are the same as thosein FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same numerals.

The non-bonding area m is set or formed between the center hole 4 andthe inner information non-recording area at the surface where theinformation recording layer 2 of the disc 1 is provided. As describedbefore, in the WORM optical information medium, the diameter of thecenter hole 4 of the disc 1, i.e. the inner diameter of the disc 1 is 15mm, and the outer diameter of the disc 1 is 120 mm, and the thicknessthereof is 0.6 mm. The non-bonding area m is formed at an area having adiameter ranging from a diameter of 15 mm to 26 mm. Further, thetracking guide 3 and information recording layer 2 are provided at thearea of the disc 1 having a diameter ranging from 48 mm to 116 mm andthis area is defined as the information recording area r. Theinformation recording area r forms pits by the irradiation of therecording laser beam for bringing about an optical interference whichlight length is partially differentiated from other portions, to formthe area for recording signals therein.

Another disc 5 is prepared in addition to the disc 1, and these discs 1and 5 are bonded to each other. In this case, the surface where theinformation recording layer 2 is provided on the disc 1 is bonded. Thenon-bonding area m formed at the peripheries of the center holes 4 ofthe discs 1 and 5 are not coated with the adhesive 11, but the outsideportions of the non-bonding area m are coated with the adhesive 11.Accordingly, the adhesive 11 is neither bonded to the non-bonding area mnor the peripheral surfaces of the center holes 4 of the discs 1 and 5of the bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and 5.

FIG. 12 is an optical information medium according to the ninthembodiment of the invention. In FIG. 12( a), rectangular grooves 7 and 7are defined in the outside of the non-bonding area m of the bondingsurfaces of the discs 1 and 5. When the bonding surfaces of the discs 1and 5 are coated with the adhesive 11, the adhesive 11 flows into andstays in the grooves 7 and 7, thereby preventing the adhesive 11 frombonding to the non-bonding area m. Further, the bonding area outside thenon-bonding area m of the bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and 5increases by the provisions of the grooves 7 and 7, and the resistivityof friction is reinforced by the adhesive 11 entering the grooves 7 and7, i.e. by a so-called anchor effect. In FIG. 12( b), the grooves 7 and7 are defined from the outside of the non-bonding area m to thenon-bonding area m and reach the center holes 4. Whereupon in FIG. 12(c), differences 10 and 10 are formed outside the non-bonding area m ofthe bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and 5, and hence the non-bondingarea m alone is thicker than other bonding surfaces. As a result, theadhesive 11 bonds only to the portion outside the differences 10 and 10,and it is obstructed by the differences 10 and 10 and hence it does notbond to the non-bonding area m. The bonding surfaces of the non-bondingarea m of the discs 1 and 5 are brought into contact with each otherowing to the difference of the thicknesses. In FIG. 12( d), the groove 7is defined in only the outside of the non-bonding area m of the bondingsurface of the disc 1. The groove 7 is semi-cylindrical.

In an optical information medium shown in FIG. 13 according to a tenthembodiment of the invention, no groove is defined in the discs 1 and 5but the center hole 4′ of another disc 5 is larger than the center hole4 of the disc 1. The diameter of the center hole 4′ is substantially thesame or greater than the outer diameter of the non-bonding area m. Theportion corresponding to the outside portion of the center hole 4′ aloneof the bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and 5 is coated with the adhesive11. The part of the adhesive 11 moves around the inner peripheralsurface of the center hole 4′ of the disc 5 and is fixed thereto,thereby reinforcing the resistivity of friction at the inner peripheralsides of the discs 1 and 5.

In an optical information medium shown in FIG. 14 according to aneleventh embodiment of the invention, the center hole 4′ of another disc5 is greater in diameter than the center hole 4 of the disc 1 like theembodiment of FIG. 13. The diameter of the center hole 4′ of the largediameter of the disc 5 is substantially the same or greater than theouter diameter of the non-bonding area m. The groove 7 is defined in theoutside of the non-bonding area m of the disc 1 having the center hole 4of the small diameter. Only the portion corresponding to the outside ofthe groove 7 of the bonding surfaces of the discs 1 and 5 is coated withthe adhesive 11. Since the adhesive 11 enters the groove 7 and staystherein, it hardly moves around the peripheral surface of the centerhole 4′ but the resistivity of friction is reinforced at the innerperipheral sides of the discs 1 and 5 from the adhesive 11 which enteredthe groove 7.

FIG. 15 shows the shape of the non-bonding area m set forth above,wherein denoted by dotted lines are a boundary of the non-bonding area mwhich is hidden behind the disc 1 or disc 5.

In the example of FIG. 15( a), the boundary of the non-bonding area m iseccentric relative to the centers of the discs 1 and 5. In FIG. 15( b),the boundary of the non-bonding area m is not circular, elliptical andpolygonal, but an ungeometrical irregular shape. In any case of FIGS.15( a) and (b), the boundary of the non-bonding area m is not constantor fixed in distance from the centers of the discs 1 and 5. Accordingly,the maximum amplitude Q of the mechanical resonance frequency F₀ becomessmall, thereby decreasing the oscillation of the discs at the time ofthe high revolution of the optical information medium.

Specific examples of the invention will be now described with referenceto specific numeric values.

1^(st) EXAMPLE

A carbocyanine dye having a trimethylene chain (NK 4321; available fromNippon Kanko-shikiso Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.), represented by the followingformula, was dissolved in 3 ml of diacetone alcohol to form a solutionof 40 mg/ml concentration, and a solution of the cyanine dye thusprepared was coated on a polycarbonate substrate of 0.6 mm in thicknessby a spin coating process to form an optical recording layer comprisinga layer 100 mm thick of the optical absorption dye.

A reflecting layer formed of gold is provided on the optical recordinglayer by a sputtering process, then the reflecting layer is coated withthe UV curing resin (made of Dainippon Ink & Chemicals under the productname of SD211) by a spin coating process, and the UV curing resin iscured to form a protecting layer (5 μm) formed of the UV curing film,whereby a pair of discs are fabricated. The protecting layer of one discis coated with an adhesive made of the UV curing resin (made ofDainippon Ink & Chemicals under the product name of SD318) by a spincoating process, and the protecting layer of another disc is permittedto contact this adhesive, then the adhesive is irradiated with UV raysthrough the contacted another disc, thereby curing the adhesive.

The curing coating film of the UV curing resin employed by the adhesivelayer has a pencil hardness (hand writing process of JISK5400 is used)of 2H at the temperature of 25° C., and the curing shrinkage rate is8.5%, and the curing film of the adhesive layer has substantially thesame hardness and shrinkage. In such a manner, a both surface recordingtype optical disc is obtained by bonding a pair of opposing substrates,each having a main surface on which the optical absorbing layer,reflecting layer and protecting layer are provided, and the protectinglayers of both substrates are bonded to each other by the adhesivelayer. Upon visual inspection of the external appearance of the curedadhesive layer, bubbles are not mingled in the adhesive layer and nodeformation of the optical disc is recognized. The variation rate ofreflectance and the variation of push-pull signals (tracking errorsignal variation, hereinafter referred to as PP) of the optical disc arechecked with an optical pick up (NA: 0.6, λ: 638 nm). As a result, thevariation rate is less than 5% and the PP is less than 15%. Thestructure of the optical disc is shown in Table 1 and the result of thetest is shown in Table 3. The indication of “None” of “Mixing ofBubbles” in Table 3 shows that visible bubbles are not recognized. Thisis applied to the following examples.

2^(nd) EXAMPLE

The optical disc is fabricated in the same manner as the 1^(st) Exampleexcept the thickness of the adhesive layer is 37 μm, and the test iscarried out like the 1^(st) Example. The result of the test is shown inTable 3 and the structure of the 2^(nd) Example is shown in Table 1. Itis possible to make the adhesive layer thick by any of a method ofcoating resin fluid in concentrated form, a method of decreasing thespeed of rotation of a spin coating apparatus, or a method of increasingthe number of times of coating.

3^(rd) AND 4^(th) EXAMPLES

The optical disc of the 3^(rd) and 4^(th) Examples is fabricated in thesame manner as the 1^(st) Example except bubbles are mixed in theadhesive layer and the thicknesses of the adhesive layers are 37 μm and35 μm, and the test is carried out like the 1^(st) Example. The resultof the test is shown in Table 3 and the structures of the 3^(rd) and4^(th) Examples are shown in Table 1. The indication of “Bubbles EachHaving Diameter of Exceeding Several 100 μm Are Not Mingled” means thatbubbles having a diameter of less than several 100 μm may be mixed inthe adhesive layer. This is applied to the following examples. Eitherthe bubbles are mingled in the adhesive layer or not may be carried outby subjecting the coating layer to degassing or not under a vacuum whencoating.

5^(th) AND 6^(th) EXAMPLES

The optical disc of the 5^(th) and 6^(th) Examples is fabricated in thesame manner as the 1^(st) and 4^(th) Examples except the protectinglayer is not provided and the thicknesses of the adhesive layers are 65μm and 67 μm, and the test is carried out like the 1^(st) Example. Theresult of the test is shown in Table 3 and the structures of the 5^(th)and 6^(th) Examples are shown in Table 1.

7^(th) AND 8^(th) EXAMPLES

The optical disc of the 7^(th) and 8^(th) Examples is fabricated in thesame manner as the 5^(th) and 6^(th) Examples except the thicknesses ofthe adhesive layers are 68 μm and 69 μm and the reflecting layer isprovided by sputtering aluminum (Al) instead of that of Au, and the testis carried out like the 1^(st) Example. The result of the test is shownin Table 3 and the structures of the 7^(th) and 8^(th) Examples areshown in Table 1.

9^(th) EXAMPLE

The optical disc of the 9^(th) Example is fabricated in the same manneras the 1^(st) Example except the thickness of the adhesive layer is 35μm and the reflecting layer is provided by sputtering aluminum (Al)instead of that of Au, and the test is carried out like the 1^(st)Example. The result of the test is shown in Table 3 and the structure ofthe 9^(th) Example is shown in Table 1.

10^(th) EXAMPLE

The optical disc of the 10^(th) Example is fabricated in the same manneras the 9^(th) Example except the optical recording layer is coated witha silane solution (made of The Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. under theproduct name of KR220) by a spin coating process to form a film, then anoptical enhancement layer having a thickness of 80 nm is formed with thethickness of the adhesive layer being 36 μm, and the test is carried outlike the 1^(st) Example. The result of the test is shown in Table 3 andthe structure of the 10^(th) Example is shown in Table 1.

11^(th) EXAMPLE

The optical disc of the 11^(th) Example is fabricated in the same manneras the 1^(st) Example except a solution of 20% of azo dyestuff isemployed instead of cyanine dyestuff, and the thickness of the adhesivelayer is 25 μm, and the test is carried out like the 1^(st) Example. Theresult of the test is shown in Table 3 and the structure of the 11^(th)Example is shown in Table 1.

12^(th) EXAMPLE

The optical disc of the 12^(th) Example is fabricated in the same manneras the 1^(st) Example except the resin of the adhesive layer is changedfrom the UV curing resin (made of Dainippon Ink & Chemicals under theproduct name of SD318) to the UV curing resin (made of Dainippon Ink &Chemicals under the product name of SD211), and the thickness of theadhesive layer is 25 μm, and the test is carried out like the 1^(st)Example. The result of the test is shown in Table 3 and the structure ofthe 12^(th) Example is shown in Table 1. The UV curing resin (made ofDainippon Ink & Chemicals under the product name of SD211) employed bythe adhesive layer has a pencil hardness of 2H and the curing shrinkagerate is 10.3% which are respectively measured in the same manner as thecuring coating film set forth above, and the curing film of the adhesivelayer has substantially the same hardness and shrinkage rate.

13^(th) EXAMPLE

The optical disc of the 13^(th) Example is fabricated in the same manneras the 1^(st) Example except the kind of resin of the adhesive layer ischanged from the UV curing resin to a hot melt material, and the hotmelt material is coated by a roll coating method, and the protectinglayer of another disc is brought into contact with the coating layer ofmolten viscous hot melt material to cool the protecting layer, then bothdiscs are bonded to each other with the thickness of the adhesive layerbeing 75 μm, and the test is carried out like the 1^(st) Example. Theresult of the test is shown in Table 3 and the structure of the 13^(th)Example is shown in Table 1. The hot melt material employed by theadhesive layer is that made of Daiya Bond Industry Co. and has a meltingtemperature of 125° C., and the curing shrinkage rate at the normaltemperature is measured from the molten state thereof using Archimedes'process (Archimedes' principle), which reveals that the shrinkage rateis 6%, and the curing film of the adhesive layer has substantially thesame shrinkage rate.

14^(th) EXAMPLE

The optical disc of the 14^(th) Example is fabricated in the same manneras the 1^(st) Example except the resin of the adhesive layer is changedfrom the UV curing resin (made of Dainippon Ink & Chemicals under theproduct name of SD318) to the UV curing resin (made of Nippon SteelCorporation under the product name of V-2152), and the thickness of theadhesive layer is 72 μm, and the resin of the protecting layer ischanged from the UV curing resin (made of Dainippon Ink & Chemicalsunder the product name of SD211) to the UV curing resin (made ofDainippon Ink & Chemicals under the product name of SD17) and thethickness of the protecting layer is 4 μm, and the test is carried outlike the 1^(st) Example. The result of the test is shown in Table 3 andthe structure of the 14^(th) Example is shown in Table 1. The UV curingresin (made of Nippon Steel Corporation under the product name ofV-2152) employed by the adhesive layer has a pencil hardness of 2H andthe curing shrinkage rate is 8.8% which are respectively measured in thesame manner as the curing coating film set forth above, and the curingfilm of the adhesive layer has substantially the same hardness andshrinkage rate.

15^(th) EXAMPLE

The optical disc of the 15^(th) Example is fabricated in the same manneras the 14^(th) Example except the thickness of the adhesive layer is 41μm, and the thickness of the protecting layer is 6 μm, and the test iscarried out like the 1^(st) Example. The result of the test is shown inTable 3 and the structure of the 15^(th) Example is shown in Table 1.

1^(st) COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE

The optical disc is fabricated in the same manner as the 5^(th) Exampleexcept the thickness of the adhesive layer is 6 μm, and the test iscarried out like the 1^(st) Example. The result of the test is shown inTable 3 and the structure of the 1^(st) Comparative Example is shown inTable 2.

2^(nd) COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE)

The optical disc is fabricated in the same manner as the 1^(st) Exampleexcept the thickness of the adhesive layer is 5 μm, and the test iscarried out like the 1^(st) Example. The result of the test is shown inTable 3 and the structure of the 2^(nd) Comparative Example is shown inTable 2.

3^(rd) COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE

The optical disc is fabricated in the same manner as the 1^(st) Exampleexcept the thickness of the adhesive layer is 85 μm, and the test iscarried out like the 1^(st) Example. The result of the test is shown inTable 3 and the structure of the 2^(nd) Comparative Example is shown inTable 2.

4^(th) COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE

The optical disc is fabricated in the same manner as the 1^(st) Exampleexcept the kind of resin of the adhesive layer is changed to the UVcuring acrylic resin having the pencil hardness of H and the curingshrinkage rate of 18%, which are respectively measured in the manner setforth above, and the thickness of the adhesive layer is 10 μm, and thetest is carried out like the 1^(st) Example. The result of the test isshown in Table 3 and the structure of the 4^(th) Comparative Example isshown in Table 2.

From the results shown in the Tables, it is understood that thevariation rate of the reflectance is less than 5%, which is not acritical level in each of the Examples 1 to 15, and there is notrecognized the deformation of the optical disc caused by the stress ineach of the Examples 1 to 15, and hence the stress actually influencingthe adhesive layer is not generated. Whereupon, it is understood thatthere is recognized the deformation of the optical disc in theComparative Examples 1 to 4, and the warpage occurs from the deformationof the optical disc in the Comparative Examples 3 and 4, which disablesthe recording of information. The results in the Comparative Examplesare caused by the thickness of the adhesive layer, namely, they dependon too thin or too thick thicknesses and the curing shrinkage rate ofthe adhesive layer is too large.

Further, it is understood that since there is no distortion of theoptical disc, even if it is recognized that bubbles having a diameter ofexceeding several 100 μm are not mixed in the adhesive layer in theExamples, the influence of the stress, even if it is generated in theadhesive layer, is reduced by the thickness of the adhesive layer,thereby reducing the influence thereof.

It is preferable that the pencil hardness be more than 2H (at least 2H)in the Examples. Since there is no deformation of the optical disc andthe variation of the reflectance can be restrained to less than 5% inthe Examples, it may be limited to “the optical recording medium whichis not deformed by controlling the shrinkage rate of the adhesive whenthe adhesive layer is cured and the variation of the Push-Pull signal(PP signal (Push-Pull signal) tracking signal)) is less than +15% (notexceeding ±15%) and the variation rate of the reflectance is less than5% (not exceeding 5%)”. The limiting conditions may be one of them.Meanwhile, 5% of the variation rate of the reflectance of the reflectinglayer 13 is extended to a level which is not critical in the actual casein each level of the Examples, and this can be controlled by theshrinkage rate, etc. when the adhesive layer is cured. Still further,the aforementioned limitation of the conditions may be added.

TABLE 1 Reflect- ing Adhesive layer Recording Layer Enhance LayerProtecting Layer Layer Example Material Pencil Hardness Shrinkage RateThickness Material Material Thickness Material Thickness Material 1SD318 2H 8.5% 17 μm carbocyanine — — SD211 5 μm Au 2 SD318 2H 8.5% 37 μmcarbocyanine — — SD211 5 μm Au 3 SD318 2H 8.5% 37 μm carbocyanine — —SD211 5 μm Au 4 SD318 2H 8.5% 35 μm carbocyanine — — SD211 5 μm Au 5SD318 2H 8.5% 65 μm carbocyanine — — — — Au 6 SD318 2H 8.5% 67 μmcarbocyanine — — — — Au 7 SD318 2H 8.5% 68 μm carbocyanine — — — — Al 8SD318 2H 8.5% 69 μm carbocyanine — — — — Al 9 SD318 2H 8.5% 35 μmcarbocyanine — — SD211 5 μm Al 10 SD318 2H 8.5% 36 μm carbocyanineKR-220 80 nm SD211 5 μm Al 11 SD318 2H 8.5% 25 μm azo dye — — SD211 5 μmAu 12 SD211 2H 10.3% 25 μm carbocyanine — — SD211 5 μm Au 13 Hot MeltMaterial 75 μm carbocyanine — — SD211 5 μm Au 14 V-2152 2H 8.8% 72 μmcarbocyanine — — SD17 4 μm Au 15 V-2152 2H 8.8% 41 μm carbocyanine — —SD17 6 μm Au

TABLE 2 Recording Reflecting Comparative Adhesive layer Layer EnhanceLayer Protecting Layer Layer Example Material Pencil Hardness ShrinkageRate Thickness Material Material Thickness Material Thickness Material 1SD318 2H 8.5%  6 μm carbocyanine — — — — Au 2 SD318 2H 8.5%  5 μmcarbocyanine — — SD211 5 μm Au 3 SD318 2H 8.5% 85 μm carbocyanine — —SD211 5 μm Au 4 UV Curing Acrylic Resin 2H  18% 10 μm carbocyanine — —SD211 5 μm Au

TABLE 3 Visual Inspection of External Appearance Mixing of BubbleDeformation of Disc Variation Rate of Reflectance Variation of aPush-Pull Signal Example  1 None None 3.8% 7.8%  2 None None 3.0% 6.2% 3 Bubble Each Having Diameter of Exceeding None Several 100 μm Are NotMingled None 4.7% 8.1%  4 Bubble Each Having Diameter of Exceeding None4.5% 10.1% Several 100 μm Are Not Mingled  5 Bubble Each Having Diameterof Exceeding None 4.0% 9.8% Several 100 μm Are Not Mingled  6 None None3.1% 9.0%  7 Bubble Each Having Diameter of Exceeding None Several 100μm Are Not Mingled None 4.9% 8.8%  8 None None 4.3% 6.2%  9 None None4.8% 9.1% 10 None None 4.0% 14.8% 11 None None 3.8% 12.0% 12 None None4.5% 11.3% 13 None None 3.0% 9.0% 14 None None 3.3% 10.2% 15 None None3.0% 6.3% Comparative Example  1 Yes Yes 11.8% 18.7%  2 Yes Yes 14.6%19.6%  3 Recording is Impossible Owing to Warpage 14.2% 18.1% OccurredCuring Shrinkage  3 Recording is Impossible Owing to Warpage 14.1% 22.3%Occurred Curing Shrinkage

1. An optical information medium comprising a pair of discs which havecenter holes, an optical recording layer provided on at least one of thediscs, a reflecting layer formed on an upper side of the opticalrecording layer and an adhesive layer provided on the reflecting layerfor bonding the pair of discs, wherein each of the discs has a trackingguide provided therein, is made of a polycarbonate resin and has anouter diameter of 120 mm and a thickness of 0.6 mm, the discs are bondedto each other at surfaces extending from the center holes to theoutermost peripheries of the discs, a non-bonding area is provided atperipheries of the center holes where no adhesive is provided and thediameter of the center hole of one disc is larger than the diameter ofthe center hole of the other disc and is also larger than the diameterof the non-bonding area.